Prevalence and Antimicrobial  Susceptibility  Patterns  of  Escherichia coli,  Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter freundii Isolated from Ready-to-Eat  Fresh Vegetables

Panjaphorn Nimmanee; Porntip  Paungmoung; Chatnapa  Simarub; Nattiya  Phromrungsawat; Pojnicha  Yimnongpho; Marisa  Phuttatate; Suthinan  Arnamwong; Patsaraphon  Lumlong; Chalinee  Boonchamchoo; Poochisa  Sangchan; Thanapron  Champong; Tanpaporn  Teetong

doi:10.69650/ahstr.2024.1033

Authors

Panjaphorn Nimmanee Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Porntip Paungmoung Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Chatnapa Simarub Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Nattiya Phromrungsawat Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Pojnicha Yimnongpho Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Marisa Phuttatate Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Suthinan Arnamwong Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Patsaraphon Lumlong Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Chalinee Boonchamchoo Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Poochisa Sangchan Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Thanapron Champong Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand
Tanpaporn Teetong Faculty of Medical Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan Province, 10540, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69650/ahstr.2024.1033

Keywords:

Ready-to-Eat Fresh Vegetables, Antimicrobial susceptibility, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Citrobacter freundii

Abstract

Thai farmers rely on manure-based fertilizers and irrigation water for plant cultivation, which poses a potential risk of bacterial contamination in their vegetables for sale. The objective of this study was to detect the contamination and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter freundii in 80 samples of ready-to-eat vegetables from various food vendors in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province. E. coli was found in 5 (6.25%) of the vegetable samples and C. freundii was found in 15 (18.75%) of the samples, while Salmonella spp. was not detected in any of the vegetable samples. Most E. coli isolates were found in basil samples whereas most of C. freundii were isolated from sprouts. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests of both E. coli and C. freundii against 8 antimicrobial agents using the disk diffusion method revealed that the isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested. This study highlights the presence of bacterial contamination in ready-to-eat fresh vegetables, which stems from the use of manure fertilizers. This practice could be a significant source of important enteric pathogens, posing substantial health risks to consumers.

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